# Monkey Island, Nha Trang

> Monkey Island (Đảo Khỉ, on the islet of Hòn Lao) is a park in the Nha Phu lagoon, 18–20 km north of Nha Trang, with over 1,200 free-roaming macaques. Tickets: 220,000 VND at the pier or 185,000 VND online, boat and shows included. Open daily 7:30–16:00. Allow 1.5–2.5 hours on the island, half a day with the trip.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/vietnam/nha-trang/nha-trang-monkey-island

- City: [Nha Trang](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/nha-trang), Vietnam
- YesGo score: 19/100 (Yes, if nearby)
- Time on site: 3 h
- With kids: Fine with kids
- Ticket at the pier: 220,000 VND; children 1–1.4 m 130,000 VND
- Ticket online: 185,000 VND; children 1–1.4 m 110,000 VND (operator's website)
- Under 1 m: Free
- Included: Return boat, entry, shows, loungers, freshwater shower, insurance
- Hours: Daily 7:30–16:00
- Boats: Out 7:30–14:30; back 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00
- Shows: Monkeys & Friends 10:00, 14:00, 15:15; races and swim 10:30, 14:30; feeding 13:30
- Pier: Bến tàu du lịch Long Phú, Đá Chồng — 18–20 km north of the centre
- Paying: Cash in VND at the pier; online booking is by Vietnamese bank transfer
- Operator hotline: 0941 267 267
- Coordinates: 12.36007, 109.21551
- Facts checked: 06.11.2026

## Key facts

- **1,200+** — macaques live free on the island (source: Long Phu Tourist (operator); Green SM (VinWonders says about 1,500))
- **18–20 km** — north of central Nha Trang to Long Phu pier (source: Long Phu Tourist; localvietnam.com)
- **All-in** — the ticket covers the return boat, entry and shows (source: Long Phu Tourist; Green SM)
- **Nha Phu lagoon** — the islet of Hòn Lao sits in the lagoon north of the city (source: Khanh Hoa provincial tourism portal; Long Phu Tourist)
- **Long Phu Tourist** — runs Monkey Island and neighbouring Orchid Island (source: Long Phu Tourist; Khanh Hoa tourism portal (nhatrang-travel.com))
- **Soviet-era** — monkeys were bred here for research linked to the USSR; the troop stayed (source: VTC News; localvietnam.com (dates differ))
- **Under 1 m** — children go free; 1–1.4 m pay the child fare (source: Long Phu Tourist; VinWonders)
- **3 shows** — a day: Monkeys & Friends, motorbike races and swim, feeding (source: Long Phu Tourist; Green SM)
- **No food** — outside food, drinks and single-use plastic are not allowed (source: Long Phu Tourist; Khanh Hoa tourism portal)

## Monkey Island tickets and prices

An adult ticket at the Long Phu pier costs **220,000 VND**; children 1–1.4 m pay 130,000 VND and under-1 m go free. Anyone from 1.4 m pays the adult fare. The ticket includes the return boat, island entry, all shows, beach loungers, a freshwater shower and travel insurance.

Booking on Long Phu Tourist's official website brings it down to 185,000 VND (children 110,000 VND), but payment is by Vietnamese bank transfer or at their office. For most foreign visitors the simplest option is cash in VND at the pier counter — card acceptance there is patchy. Grab can be paid in cash or with a linked foreign card.

The island's Huong Su restaurant has a buffet lunch for 220,000 VND per adult; a ticket-plus-buffet combo is 385,000 VND, sold for two or more people.

## How to get to Monkey Island from Nha Trang

1. **From the Tram Huong Tower on Tran Phu beach front**, take a Grab or taxi to Long Phu pier — search “Bến tàu du lịch Long Phú”, “Đảo Khỉ” or “Long Phu Tourist” in the app. It is 18–20 km north, 30–40 minutes; Grab shows the fare before you book.
2. The route heads north across the Cai River — about 18 km via Highway 1A or about 22 km along the coast. By scooter it's the same; parking at the pier costs around 10,000 VND (unofficial).
3. Buy your ticket at the pier counter in cash — 220,000 VND per adult — or show your booking from the operator's website.
4. The boat to the island takes about 15–20 minutes. Departures run 7:30–14:30, leaving as they fill up.
5. Boats back leave at 13:00, 14:00, 15:00 and a last one at 16:00. Miss it and the only way off is a private boat.
6. Book your Grab back while you're still on the boat: few cars wait at the pier and bike taxis are rare.

> **The monkeys will grab your stuff** These macaques are used to people and snatch anything that might be food — plastic bags, bottles, sunglasses, phones. Keep everything in a zipped backpack worn on your front, don't hold bananas up high and don't tease them. If a monkey takes something, don't chase it; ask the park staff. If you get bitten, see a doctor straight away.

## Monkey Island opening hours and show times

The island is open **daily, 7:30–16:00**, with no closing day. Boats out run 7:30–14:30; boats back leave at 13:00, 14:00, 15:00 and 16:00. The operator says the schedule can change in bad weather, so it's worth calling the hotline if the sky looks grim.

Monkeys & Friends runs at 10:00, 14:00 and 15:15; the monkey motorbike race and swimming contest at 10:30 and 14:30; the feeding session with the “monkey prince” photo op at 13:30. Be at the pier by 9:00 to catch the morning show without rushing.

## Is Monkey Island worth visiting?

Yes, if you're travelling with kids or want an easy half day out: there are monkeys everywhere, up close, and a beach to swim from. No, if you want wildlife in the wild. This is an amusement park, not a sanctuary, and the shows are circus acts with trained animals.

The YesGo take: it works best paired with Orchid Island or the [Ba Ho waterfalls](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/nha-trang/ba-ho-waterfalls). Don't cross town just for the show — see the monkeys in the morning, swim, and leave before the midday heat. If animal acts aren't for you, skip the arena; the free-roaming macaques and the beach are the better part anyway.

## How long do you need on Monkey Island?

1.5–2.5 hours covers the monkeys, a show and a swim; with go-karting and the beach, about three. Add 30–40 minutes each way by car plus the boat, and it's a comfortable half day — morning is best, as boats out stop at 14:30.

## Monkey Island and Orchid Island in one day

Easy — both islands have the same operator and the same pier. The two-island ticket is **420,000 VND** online (children 255,000 VND) and covers the boat, entry to both and the shows. It saves money over two tickets, but takes a full day.

Orchid Island (Đảo Hoa Lan) has a different feel: mangroves, an orchid garden, a beach, a petting zoo with deer, ostriches and peacocks, plus jet skis. On its own it's 235,000 VND online or 280,000 VND at the pier. Boats there run only 7:30–10:30, with returns at 13:00 and 15:00, so do it first.

The operator also sells a Nha Phu day tour with pick-up in Nha Trang, a guide, speedboat and buffet lunch for 670,000 VND — handy if you'd rather not deal with taxis.

## What to see on Monkey Island

- Free-roaming macaques by the jetty, along the paths and up in the trees — the 13:30 feeding brings them closest.
- The Monkeys & Friends show, monkey motorbike races and the swimming contest in the central arena.
- The beach with loungers, shade tents and freshwater showers — all included in the ticket.
- The colourful rock garden, the heart garden and bougainvillea arches — made for photos.
- Prokart go-karts and buggy rides around the island, paid separately.
- Views from the jetty over the green hills of the Nha Phu lagoon.

## What Monkey Island is

In Vietnamese it's **Đảo Khỉ**, “Monkey Island”; on maps it's the islet of **Hòn Lao** in the Nha Phu lagoon, which opens onto the South China Sea. The pier is at Da Chong on Nha Trang's northern edge.

Monkeys were bred here for scientific research linked to the Soviet Union. When that ended, the troop stayed and grew; sources disagree on the dates, citing both the 1960s and 1975. Today the island is a leisure park, not a reserve: the macaques roam freely, but alongside visitors and their snacks.

## Monkey Island vs Orchid Island

|  | Monkey Island | Orchid Island | Both islands |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Highlights | Free-roaming macaques, monkey shows | Mangroves, orchid garden, petting zoo | Everything |
| Ticket at the pier | 220,000 VND | 280,000 VND | — |
| Ticket online | 185,000 VND | 235,000 VND | 420,000 VND |
| Boats out | 7:30–14:30 | 7:30–10:30 | Morning |
| Last boat back | 16:00 | 15:00 | Per operator schedule |
| Shows | Monkey circus, races, swim | Birds, goose races, pigs and goats | All shows on both islands |

Prices and boat times are official Long Phu Tourist figures. Kids who love animals will enjoy both; with one free morning and a beach in mind, Monkey Island is enough.

## Before you go: checklist

- [ ] Cash in VND for the ticket, food and taxi
- [ ] Grab installed and a plan for the ride back
- [ ] Leaving by 13:00 to make the 14:30 boat
- [ ] Zipped backpack — no plastic bags in hand
- [ ] Sunglasses and phone put away near the monkeys
- [ ] Swimsuit, towel, sunscreen
- [ ] No outside food or plastic bottles

## Nha Trang by the water: compare and choose

Waterside places in Nha Trang rated by YesGo.

- [Institute of Oceanography](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/nha-trang/nha-trang-oceanographic-institute) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · 40,000 VND
- [VinWonders Nha Trang](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/nha-trang/vinwonders-nha-trang) — YesGo score 24/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · 1,050,000 VND
- [Monkey Island](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/nha-trang/nha-trang-monkey-island) — YesGo score 19/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · 220,000 VND at the pier, 185,000 online
- [Ba Ho Waterfalls](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/nha-trang/ba-ho-waterfalls) — YesGo score 19/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · 135,000–185,000 VND

## Northern Nha Trang in a day

Monkeys and a swim in the morning, then the Ba Ho waterfalls, and the Po Nagar towers and Hon Chong rocks on the way back. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

1. [Monkey Island](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/nha-trang/nha-trang-monkey-island) — YesGo score 19/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · 220,000 VND at the pier, 185,000 online
2. [Ba Ho Waterfalls](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/nha-trang/ba-ho-waterfalls) — YesGo score 19/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · 135,000–185,000 VND
3. [Po Nagar Cham Towers](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/nha-trang/po-nagar) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · 30,000 VND, children free
4. [Hon Chong Promontory](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/nha-trang/hon-chong) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · 30,000 VND, children free

## Good to know

Monkey Island is not part of the Nha Trang Bay island-hopping trips: it lies the other way, in the Nha Phu lagoon to the north, and boats leave from Long Phu pier, not Cau Da port in town. Orchid Island next door has the same operator but its own ticket.

## Tips

- Arrive by 9:00: the monkeys are livelier before the heat and you'll make the 10:00 show easily.
- Leave feeding to the official 13:30 session — park staff show you how to do it safely.
- Pack a swimsuit — the beach, loungers and showers are included in the ticket.
- Doing both islands? Start with Orchid Island: boats there stop at 10:30.
- Book your Grab back from the boat — cars are scarce at the pier.
- Combine the island with the Ba Ho waterfalls and the [Po Nagar towers](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/nha-trang/po-nagar) on the same side of town.

## Questions

### How much is the Monkey Island ticket in Nha Trang?

220,000 VND at the pier, 130,000 VND for children 1–1.4 m, free under 1 m. Online on the operator's website it's 185,000 and 110,000 VND. The return boat and shows are included.

### How do I get to Monkey Island from Nha Trang?

Grab or taxi 30–40 minutes to Long Phu pier (Bến tàu du lịch Long Phú), 18–20 km north of the centre, then a 15–20 minute boat. Boats out run 7:30–14:30.

### What are Monkey Island's opening hours?

Daily, 7:30–16:00. The last boat back to the pier leaves at 16:00.

### Is Monkey Island in Nha Trang worth it?

For families and an easy half day, yes. If you want real wildlife or dislike animal shows, it's a leisure park with circus acts — skip it or pair it with Orchid Island and Ba Ho.

### How long should I spend on Monkey Island?

1.5–2.5 hours on the island, about three with go-karts and the beach. Half a day including the trip from town.

### Can I visit Monkey Island and Orchid Island in one day?

Yes — the two-island ticket is 420,000 VND online. Start with Orchid Island, as boats there only run until 10:30.

### What time are the monkey shows?

Monkeys & Friends at 10:00, 14:00 and 15:15; motorbike races and swim at 10:30 and 14:30; feeding at 13:30.

### Do I need a tour to visit Monkey Island?

No — getting there on your own is easy and cheaper. A tour helps if you want Orchid Island and Ba Ho too, with transport and lunch sorted.

### Is Monkey Island safe for kids?

Yes, with care: keep food and loose items away, don't let children carry snacks, and stay calm if a monkey approaches.

## How we checked

Fares, hours, boat and show schedules come from the operator Long Phu Tourist's official website and booking page, checked 06.11.2026: 220,000 VND at the pier, 185,000 VND online. Guides quoting 180,000 VND are out of date. Guides give hours of 7:30–16:30; the operator says 7:30–16:00, which we show. Number of monkeys: the operator and Green SM say over 1,200, VinWonders about 1,500; we use the operator's figure. The island's area differs between sources (25 and 35 ha), so we leave it out. Boat time: guides say 10–20 minutes, the operator 20–35; we give 15–20. Several sources confirm the research-station history, but with different dates (1960s and 1975), so we give none. City bus numbers to the pier differ between sources and none is confirmed, so we don't recommend the bus. The parking fee is unofficial.

## Sources

- Long Phu Tourist (operator of Monkey Island and Orchid Island): fares, hours, boat and show schedules, rules, 06.11.2026
- Khanh Hoa provincial tourism portal: Monkey Island (Hon Lao) in the Nha Phu lagoon, advice on monkeys; Long Phu Tourist listing
- VinWonders, Green SM, localvietnam.com — island guides (distance, boat time, number of monkeys)
- VTC News, localvietnam.com — history of the monkey breeding station
- Wikidata Q31909823
- YesGo general facts for Vietnam — cards, cash and Grab

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